What is Grace 365?
With CEO Stacy Johnson being a former foster child and while running our shelter we have all seen first hand the heartbreaking outcomes for many of these kids when they turn 18. Statistics show much higher instances of early pregnancy, drug addiction, homelessness, incarceration, and unemployment are for kids who age out of foster care. Less than 2% go to college (despite Texas foster kids receiving free college) and many of them age out without a high school diploma. It is VERY rare that they age out with a car or even a driver’s license.
These kids need some support to set them up for success and that’s what Central Texas Table of Grace intends to do! This grant allows us to launch our Grace365 program for kids who age out of foster care. For now, we’ll be setting the youth up in apartments, but this is all a part of a larger vision of a tiny home village in Round Rock. A place where they have a roof over their heads for a period of time to get started right. There will be mentoring, education, services, and even jobs on site if that’s what they need to get started.
The Glimmer Austin Growth Grant
We have been selected to receive a $50,000 Glimmer|Austin growth grant to expand our services and offer support and wraparound case management to young adults that are referred from the Department of Family and Protective Services. We are blessed to receive this opportunity and cannot thank Glimmer|Austin enough for their help in launching this new program.
